Notes / Commercial Description:
Saranac Chocolate Lager is a sinfully delicious deep amber lager made with certified organic cacao from Belize. Our brewers looked far and wide for the highest quality cacao to create a smooth chocolaty taste that only comes from the most exclusive cacao plants. We used the roasted seeds of these decadent plants and perfectly paired them with caramel malt and German Hallertau hops to create a malty chocolate sweet flavor. You'll love savoring this beer with your favorite holiday foods or on its own for a delicious treat!

User Reviews

A: [3.00] Nice clear mahogany color. There is very little head on this beer - just a thin white trace on the top. No lacing at all. There is a best by date (3/31/13 - so this beer is *very* old)

S: [3.00] Biscuity and bready. There are caramel and malty notes too. As it warms there are slight wafts of chocolate.

T: [3.00] This first few sips are very traditional lager flavor. Nice balance of malty sweetness. Maybe a slight bit of chocolate on the finish - but just barely.

M: [3.25] The carbonation level is right. There isn't much body - but I suspect this is low ABV

O: [3.00] If you poured this in a glass (and didn't tell me what it was) I don't think I'd pick up any chocolate flavor. It is subtle, even when I am looking for it. To be fair this is a beer that was in the back of the fridge for a long time - so it may have lost some/all of its character. The beer is pleasant and is actually nicer as it warms.

Pours out a fairly clear chestnut amber color, a little bit of a fine sediment visible. About one finger of off white head from a rather vigorous pour. Not the greatest head retention and only a little bit of lace that is quick to fall back into the beer from a swirl of the glass.

Kind of a strange meaty, cocoa aroma. Some toasted grain and lager like mineral yeast.

Light cocoa at first, cleaner than the aroma, cocoa becomes more noticeable towards the end of the glass as it warms. Along with some toasted, light caramelized grain and a bit of a mineral like lager taste. Hints of cocoa linger into the finish.

Light to medium in body, very smooth, drinks very easily.

I couldn't see myself actually buying this, but if I found it in a fridge somewhere, I'd probably drink it again. I wasn't expecting to really find any cocoa nib notes in this beer, but to my surprise there was some halfway decent flavors.

A very dark orange color, it's almost bronze, though it's completely clear. A pale tan head starts off firm and rests right around a finger tall. It takes a bit of time to fade, eventually leaving a thinner foam that clings especially to the edges but keeps itself together. It leaves some spotting behind as it falls.
A somewhat metallic note, English-style though I don't think any English varietals are used, develops as it sits. The cocoa is definitely there, though. Otherwise it's toasty with just a touch of toffee-like sweetness and a ghost of leaf.
The flavor goes fruitier. While the cocoa sneaks through underneath and into the finish, I wish it was more of a factor. The toast, a touch of toffee and the leaf make up the foremost notes, with a touch of dryness at the end. It's a decent bock, with good balance, toastiness, and a malty base with just a bit of hops for balance and depth, but it could use a little more something, and the chocolate just is too subtle.
The feel isn't bad but is a little tinny as a tea-like leafiness, which also adds some dryness, comes through. It's almost medium-bodied, maybe barely, with a steady carbonation and even, moderate crispness.

A: Looks good, deep amber color ber with a bit of head that dissipates

S: A very strong sent of coco but very little of the beer or hops. However I suspect the hops+coco mix is causing this to come across as slightly unpleasant.

T: In short I don't like it.. coco is very up front with some bitter maybe astringent tones to the taste.

M: Not bad, despite being only amber has a nice full mouthfeel expected from a chocolate based drink, nice carbonation,

O: This was not a pleasant beer for me. A strong coco flavor and smell but very little sweat backing it up.. This might be due to the clean amber lager base. If felt is needed crystal and roasted malts to back up the coco or something to complement it. (ie. I'd rather a lagered porter with chocolate than this drink)

Bottle thanks Mikeg67. Poured a clear brown amber with a small beige head. Aroma and Taste is of mildly toasted barley, malt, some chocolate notes, mild bitterness. A medium body with moderate carbonation on the palate. The Finish is toasted grains some light chocolate flavor and mild bitterness. Seems a bit light on the chocolate flavor needs more chocolate. Overall an ok sessional brew.

It's not a bad drink. It's just not exciting. The chocolate is certainly there, but it's still just a hint of it. If it has it in the name of the brew, I would expect it to be more than a hint. This is rather watery, looks like an ale, and has far too little chocolate. Odd advertisement. I enjoyed it, but wouldn't get it again.

T: This is where it gets interesting. I actually started drinking this one from the bottle; as soon as I realized this wasn't your standard chocolatey stout/porter, I decided to take a closer look (literally and figuratively). Honestly, I wouldn't have noticed the very faint chocolate had it not been advertised as such. It has a nice malty taste to it with an indistinct astringent hop back that isn't particularly pleasant. I can see it's classification as a bock, but I wouldn't be shocked to see it as a red, either.

M: Nice and thick. Medium carbonation.

O: This one's kind of a head-scratcher. Not terrible, but not great, and the chocolate is almost imperceptable. Huh.

The pour is a copper-amber color with a lingering off-white head and lacing. I expected it to look much darker for something with chocolate in its title. But it is also a lager so that has to come into play I guess.

The aroma is light in milk chocolate with a slightly more vanilla and caramel malt feel than chocolate. Clean hops though.

The body is creamy and in the medium range.

The taste is more akin to a sweet caramel malt lager than chocolate. Actually vanilla would be the better descriptor. There is a slight lingering bitterness at the tail end. Probably my least favorite selection in the Saranac 2013 Winter Mix Pack.

Autumn orange in color with good clarity. Poured with a short white foam that quickly disappeared. Lightly toasted and caramel malt aromas with chocolate in the bacground. Starts off a bit thin but quickly evolves into a medium bodied beer with tangy, robust carbonation. Caramel and dark toasted malt flavors up front quickly followed by chocolate flavors that grow through the middle. Tangy hop bite from start through the middle. Flavors and feel take a smooth turn toward the end. Finishes with a toasted malt finish.

this is a wonderful winter beer. hazelnut and chocolate flavor. great mouthfeel. precisely a chocolate lager. one of my favorite ive had for the past three years. if you like sweet beers you will love this. ive always been happy with any up state new york brew

12oz longneck bottle
A) Pours with a two finger, off white head that retains itself for a while. Settles to sticky lacing at the edge of the glass. Clear copper colored body.
S) Caramel. Yeasty. Hints of chocolate.
T) Pleasant malts up front and throughout - caramel, toasty, and slightly buttery. Finishes with a mellow hop bite.
M) Smooth. Lighter side of medium bodied. Dry finish.
O) A decent brew. I'd definitely drink another one.

A- pours a medium-dark amber with a one finger head that dissapates to a small layer that sustains on top, no lace.

S- toasty malt with some caramel and cocoa nibs are noticable at first, but beyond that- grains and cooked sweet corn,and just a bit of spicy hops at the end

T- sweet cacao mixes with some caramel malt with a bit of hazelnut character. Underlying under the sweetness is a toasty character with some grain. There is a light herbal hop finish on the back end, the finish is quite dry.

M- medium body with moderate carbonation, leads to a foamy mouthfeel and a creamy finish

O- I appreciate that this one holds up the malt character expected with a bock, but the combination of this with the chocolate seems a bit unbalanced. It's worth a try however, as it is quite different. Wouldn't put it anywhere near Sam Adams Chocolate Bock though.

A - Poured from 12oz brown bottle into short stem chalice, this beer yields a silky smooth beige head of about a finger and half. Little to no lacing left behind as the head gives way a little too prematurely. Color is a rich amber hue but seems a little cloudy.

T - Umm....ok, so I'm expecting more in the way of the cocoa. It's there but it is sooo subtle you really have to seek it out. Slightly above average for the style. Crisp with a dry finish...slightly warm too. Not very bitter either.

M - Not to thin. Just the right amount of carbonation for the style.

O - One of the best of the bunch from the Holiday sampler, but nothing spectacular. A little too safe. I wish Saranac would take a few more chances with their brews...if they were just a little more daring they might fare better. [ii]D. Cheers!

T- the first thing to strike is a chocolate sweetness/slight bitterness combo. Then a slight maltiness mixed with a tiny hint of cocoa in the background arrives. The beer finishes kind of on the dry side with an ever so tiny bit of alcohol warmth. This beer is very well balanced.

M- Nice: not highly carbonated and on the thin side of middle but only by a hair. It's not at all chewy and not at all offensive.

O- This is a very nice beer: not outstanding but nice in an average kind of way. The style says bock, I say it's a very drinkable dunkel. But as a bock it is underwhelming, as a dunkel it is a nice average sample for the style.

A: One finger head. Not much lacing but some. Transparent copper-orange color typical of a Bock. Died down kind of quick.

S: Small amounts of cocoa and a yeast smell. The alcohol was quiet evident in the smell which is odd because its not too apparent in the taste.

T: Once again some of those cocoa flavors. Nothing to strong but it is there. Bitterness is mild to none which is understandable for a Bock style beer. Nice caramely flavor at some points if your willing to search too.Really there isn't too much to the taste but what there is is pretty good tasting.

Best before March 31, 2013. 12 fl oz brown glass bottle with standard pressure cap served into an Oskar Blues pilsner glass in me gaff in low altitude Los Feliz, Los Angeles, California. Reviewed live. Expectations are low given the brewery. Acquired at Argonaut Liquor in Denver, Colorado as part of a Saranac variety box; all the others in the box were underwhelming to say the least.

Served straight from the fridge. Side-poured with standard vigor as no carbonation issues are anticipated.

A: Pours a 1.5 finger beige colour head of nice cream and thickness, and good retention. Body colour is a caramel-copper. Appears overcarbonated judging by the bubbles. No yeast particles are visible. No bubble show. Pretty underwhelming for a chocolate lager.

Sm: Caramalt, sweet malts, and some floral hop character. Generic and bland. I don't get any chocolate at all. No yeast character or alcohol is detectable. I'm none too excited for this one, lads. An average strength aroma.

T: Sweet and heavy on the caramel, with some good heavy-bodied malty bock notes. Some nice candi sugar notes are its only notable characteristic. It's rather simple, but it fills out nicely, hitting the demands of a bock - just not those of a "chocolate lager." Still, I'm glad it's a bock and not a schwarzbier. Lacks balance in spite of its simplicity. Built in a boring fashion, but it's enjoyable in a general sense; I do love beer itself after all. There's little to say about it given how little is going on.

Dr: Drinkable but underwhelming. A boring bland beer that in no way satisfies its declared style. This is not at all a chocolate lager. I wouldn't have it again, but it isn't horribly priced. Another forgettable beer from a mediocre brewery. I'm unsurprised they brew for Costco.

Pours a clear, dark copper color with a foamy, off-white head that recedes to leave minimal lacing.

Aromas begin with toasted bready maltiness, with a sprinkling of cocoa powder. There is some grainy malitness in there as well with a scant bit of caramel as it warms.

The tastes begin with some toasty, crackery pilsner maltiness, some light toasted nuttiness. Finially you get some light cocoa and some toffee sweetness and a light nondescript bitterness presumabley from some noble hops.

The mouthfeel is on the heavier side of light-bodied with medium carbonation. Finish is fairly dry and clean

Overall having this after Samuel Smith's Chocolate Stout was maybe not fair but this really lacked the flavor profile I was looking for. The lager yeast presumabley scrapped much of the sweet flavor out of this beer leaving a more clean balanced flavor profile, but maybe just the chocolate and lager combo aren't a match you see too often for a reason.

A new take on an old favorite! The taste and texture of German dunkel is complemented by both raw chocolate spice and also the strength of bock. The grainy-sweet but silky smooth flavors that ensue simply belong together.

Pouring frothy, deep, and dark- its garnet hue is brilliantly clear. Slightly off white, the foam that separates from the beer skirts the beer with a sheet of bubbles that proves long lasing and speckles the glass with lace. It's an impressive looking beer throughout.

Elegant aromas of toasted malt, light toffee, hazelnut, and freshly kilned cocoa nibs all give the supple and sultry scent of Nutella. But with background whiffs of cooked corn, starch, and alcohol, the beer breaks away from breakfast time nutrition and steps into the adult beverage world.

The common taste of German dunkel is alive and well here as the part-grain, part-malt balance gives up its caramelized sweetness and mild starchy flavor. Toast, light coffee, toffee, hazelnut, and clay earthiness gives the beer its robust taste and remarkable dryness. But just as the taste of dunkel settles in, the added complexity of chocolate enters in and gives the beer added smoothness, savory, and earthy spice that is pleasantly unexpected and carries the beer through the finish.

It's grainy-sweet texture is simply on par for dunkel, but the grain character is in danger of astringency if not for the creamy textures that are aided by the cocoa nibs. Nutty, creamy, and lightly slick to the palate, these textures further detract from the corn-like character of yeast. Its late fade from creaminess to semi-dryness falls just short of completion as the beer lingers with residual grain sweetness and cocoa oils.

Sell this beer as a dunkel and I'm all aboard. It's satisfactory and appealing with nuances of complexity that is unexpected yet rewarding. But as a self-sold chocolate infused bockbier, my mind is set on higher expectations.

OK, so right off the bat, in case anyone reading this wondering, this beer is nothing like the sickly-sweet caramel porter. No, there isn't a big chocolate taste, but, this is a decent bock. Let it warm up a bit, and a dry cocoa comes out in the aroma and there's a light, earthy note in the flavor's finish. Of course, there's also a big caramel, toffee, and toasted bread crust barley character. It's less fruity than your average bock, but I like the cocoa replacing the usual sugars. The body is on par with your average lager, making it fairly drinkable. This is kind of a cool beer: balanced chocolate, tasty malts, and a slightly bitter hops finish. I'd take another.

Smell: Well-toasted malts, though not overly effusive, given a sprinkling of cocoa powder. Very, very vague hop note lingering in there.

Taste: A start of toasty German malts, a scant nuttiness (also toasty), then some sweetness and, at last, some of the namesake chocolate coming through. A drop of apple now and then. Scant herbal-hinting hops with only a bit of bitterness. Body lightens and it closes out nearly dry, which is nice surprise.

Pours a clear coppery orange with a little over a one finger off-white head. Pretty good lacing and head retention.

Chocolate is definitely present in the aroma but in a more subdued way than what I was expecting. A huge caramel base with hints of toast and a fleeting brush of grassy noble hops. Not bad.

The flavor again has just subtle hints of chocolate. Really tastes like a Vienna lager base with some chocolate thrown in although they compliment each other nicely. Toast and caramel undertones with some cocoa. I can barely detect some grassy hops buried underneath and bitterness is light to moderate. Watery mouthfeel with a little sticky finish.

Overall, an all around average beer and I really with the chocolate was a little more pronounced. Not quite as good as Sam Adams chocolate bock but non-offensive nonetheless.